April 13, 2000

The 82-member Agriculture Coalition for U.S. China Trade praised House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) in a letter today for scheduling a vote on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China during the week of May 22.

The pro China trade group pointed out that the agreement negotiated with China in November finally levels the playing field for American farmers and businesses.

"While the United States gains access to its growing market, China does not gain any greater access to the U.S. market under the negotiated agreement, making it a win-win for American agriculture," the letter said. "Even now, China is implementing the 1999 Agreement on U.S.-China Agricultural Cooperation, and bringing U.S. meat, wheat, and citrus products into China."

The letter also emphasizes the importance of passing PNTR, saying that without a positive vote in Congress, farmers will not be able to reap the benefits of lower tariffs and other concessions made by China in its quest to join the World Trade Organization. Without PNTR, the letter said, the U.S. could not take advantage of things like trading and distribution rights and have the protection of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and dispute settlement mechanisms.

"With its door now opening, the China market presents a huge opportunity to dramatically increase U.S. agricultural exports, but that can happen only if Congress approves PNTR and China joins the WTO," said Vincent Lupinacci, President and CEO of Sunkist Growers.

"There are over a billion people in China just waiting to eat U.S. beef," said NCBA President George Hall, a cattle producer from Mustang, Okla. "But for tariffs to come down so our price is competitive, Congress must first approve PNTR. China holds the greatest opportunity for future growth in the U.S. beef industry, and exports to China could triple under the agreement."

"The question before the Congress is whether U.S. farmers, workers, and businesses will be allowed to have the same access to China’s vast market as our competitors in Canada, the European Union and Japan will have when China joins the WTO," the letter said.

The Agriculture Coalition for U.S.- China Trade is an organization dedicated to ensuring open trade with China. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and Farmland Industries co-chair the Coalition.

back to main index